Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Sell Yourself Short - Option #8

Circulation:This is an eight-times-a-year
publication founded in 1920 with a circulation of 110,000. Their readers
include men and women of all ages and varying levels of writing skill and
success. The majority of their readers live in the U.S. and Canada.

Page length and payment:For manuscripts, they pay 30–50
cents per word, on acceptance, for first world rights for one-time print use
and perpetual electronic use. Should they want to reprint anything they have purchased
from you in anything other than electronic format, they will pay you 25% of the
original purchase price per use. Contributor copies are sent to writers and
artists whose work appears in that issue.

For lengths, see below.

What I like:An index of each year’s issue contents
is available at www.writersdigest.com
so you can see what topics have already been contracted or done to death.

You can purchase copies via the
newsstand or www.writersdigestshop.com.

On-spec submissions are preferred.I don’t like to have to query.I like to send the story off and be done with
it.

This upfront section of the magazine is the best place for new writers to
break in. Each Inkwell features an 800-900–word lead story that kicks off the
magazine. The article ranges in style and tone every issue, but often takes the
form of an opinion-based piece, weaving a narrative and drawing out tips for
readers. It can be a great place to discuss theoretical or timely concepts.

Inkwell also features short pieces of 300–600 words (how-tos, trends,
humor, insight on news that will still be relevant when our next issue hits
stores, weird and intriguing tidbits about the writing world). Traditional
queries are accepted for Inkwell, but on-spec submissions are preferred.
Include “Inkwell:” and the name of your piece in the subject line of your
query.

5-Minute
Memoir
Secretly my favorite section of the magazine, 5-Minute Memoir is their new
venue for 600-word essay reflections on the writing life.

While
5-Minute Memoir is a diverse spot in which they want a writer’s individual
style and voice to come through, the essays they love most are those with a
strong narrative element, relaying an experience and its subsequent wisdoms and
takeaways for writers. Submit on spec to wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com, with
“5-Minute Memoir” in the subject line.

Reject a
Hit

They claim
they need more of these 300-word, short-sighted rejection letters!

This back-page feature is a humorous fake rejection letter, of 300 words
or fewer, spoof-rejecting a classic or beloved book. As the intro to the
feature goes, “Let’s step once again into the role of the unconvinced, perhaps
even curmudgeonly or fool-hearted editor: What harsh rejection letters might
the authors of some or our favorite hit books have had to endure?” Winning
submissions generally focus on books in which a broad base of readers would be
familiar with, and poke fun at a short-sighted or absurd editor—not the
original author of the featured book. For Reject
a Hit, they accept on-spec submissions only. Submit your letter via email (no
attachments, please) to wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com with Reject a Hit: [Book
Title]” in the subject line.

14 comments:

Tamara
said...

Hope you had fun, Jody. I'm glad to see this information about Writer's Digest. I didn't realize they had these possibilities for writers. I'm thinking they've added them recently. I'll take a look at a current copy.

You'll have fun coming up with a rejection letter for that one, Jody. I understand that there are some (and I say this as someone has hasn't read it, so in no position to judge) who wish the publisher had done exactly that. Aren't there ten shades missing from your title, by the way, or was that deliberate?

Thanks for posting the details of the mag. Maybe someone should do an article on writing for WW... the dos and don'ts of romances and mysteries. Sadly, it won't be me as I had yet another rejection from them last week.

Do any of you remember that WW briefly featured a "What It's Really Like To ...."? I wrote one about what it was really like to be a published writer, using my success at WW as the pinnacle. I received no response at all, and the feature soon disappeared. I wondered why it was so short-lived.

@ Chirs. Yes, there are 10 shades missing... interesting. I didn't even catch that. There's some explanation, I'm sure. Like my love life isn't a 50. Or I'm so used to shaving off ten years of my age...now I'm starting to do it with everything. lol

@ Tamara. I don't remember that "What It's Really Like" column. I guess it wasn't a success so they went on to add "Starting Over" and "Everyday Hero" and "Circle of Kindness" and "My Guardian Angel"...which pay between $25 and $100 dollars. Maybe we should be thinking of subbing something to one of those columns.

When they began the Circle of Kindness they actually sent me an email to let me know they were looking for submissions. I sent one right away about buying what looked like a homeless woman some cheese she couldn't pay for in the checkout line. I never heard a thing from WW about that submission.

I don't think they reply to those short items, Tamara. I have sent them only one. It was something that I have never read there before or since, and I thought most women would appreciate it. Evidently the editors did not agree. Wouldn't you agree that most of the C of K's are remarkably similar?

Thanks, Jody! I just hit Send on a Reject a Hit piece about Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls. It was fun to write...and one of the few blockbusters I've read. I can probably have fun with The Color Purple if I can remember the story 30 years after reading the book...

Just remembered another classic book I remember vividly. Gonna give that one a try, too.

Mom on my porch, doing the same jigsaw puzzle she does every day.

Kayla, my granddaughter. :)

NEW: Welcome Switzerland. My 58,000th hit!

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78 Pages full of tips. Click on cover for link. Only $1.99.

Editors can spot a new writer. Sound advice on how to look like a pro, with tips to fool the editors and get your piece in the door and on an editor's desk. After that, it's all up to your voice. Includes common pitfalls to avoid, ways to improve and produce fresh writing, and polishing techniques from someone who has been in your typing chair. Not a textbook. Not a tutorial. Just a collection of down-to-earth, practical, easy to understand examples on how to improve your writing.

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Want help with your story?

My day job puts me in contact with real cops, detectives, FBI agents and DEA guys. I have worked thousands of cases from the homeless guy on the Metrorail who got arrested for jumping the turnstile -- that’s right, arrested for not having a quarter -- to the Tamiami Strangler, a serial killer who strangled hookers along the famous trail in Miami. I produce court transcripts for a living.

Who better to look at your mystery stories to see if the police procedures are true, the clues are solid and the whole thing works? I will not hesitate to point out the good, the bad and the ugly in your story. Both of my WW mysteries made it to Johnene. From there? Cross your fingers.

The line-by-line edit, which also includes grammar, spelling and proofing, will offer suggestions on how to improve problem spots. The cost is $29 payable by PayPal. 72-hour turn around time.

I’ll also take a second look once you’ve revamped your story, but this time I’ll only look for glaring errors assuming all the details you chose to put in you want to stay in.

Send your story as a Word e-mail attachment to ladyrprter at aol dot com, and the fee to PayPal using ladyrprter at aol dot com for the payee

Your tag line is the hook that gets someone interested in reading your work. It's one of the most important lines of your story. Take time to make it sparkle.

Criminals don't always think the crime through--especially if the crime is one of passion or revenge--but don't have them make stupid or stilly mistakes just to get your story written. Make the mistakes something that you just normally don't think about. Like the pruning skin in this story.

You don't always have to have crime scene details to make a mystery story work. Cozy mysteries sell well if you make the characters interesting.

Once again WW chose a story with a female cop and little old ladies. Just remember to use the proper words for the crimes and before you say things like, he jimmied the lock, understand just what that is.

You've only got 700 words. Make them count. Don't waste words on things that don't matter. And NEVER give a clue and then later in the solution change it to the opposite. That's not fair. Just how is the reader supposed to figure it out then?

There are many ways to lay out the solve-it-yourself story. You don't always have to have the reader guess who the perp is. This week's story was presented with a fresh angle. We knew who did it. The question was did she cover her tracks well enough to fool the police?

As writers we often ask the reader to suspend disbelief a bit, but don't overdo it. Keep it as real as you can or you'll lose the reader.

If you have four suspects, have four good motives. Otherwise what's the point in having four suspects? It is almost a sin to have four suspects and not have even one decent red herring in the bunch. That's just a waste of words.

When the reader expects one situation, and gets another, that's really a form of a red herring. I expected a tired old theory and was given the surprise of a fresh twist. As the reader I was tricked...and that's a good thing.

When you reuse characters be sure to make them interesting and likable. Being cranky is not the same as being interesting. Be careful to not let one of them become mean. It's hard to like someone who calls people names and teases them about their not so glorious past.

Don't introduce a main character too late in the story. The reader feels cheated.

You don't always have to have police involved for a mystery to work. Be realistic if you are going to use animals in your story. Lassie wasn't real.

Write in more than one good motive. Two or three people could have done it, but only one has the means and opportunity to go with that motive.

I realize you only have 700 words to get in your story, but use every one of those words wisely. Don't repeat to fill the space. If your story is really done in 350 words, your story is too simple.

Try not to use the same old tired solutions. We're writers. Come up with something new and interesting. Treat the readers to a challenge. If I see one more muddy footprint on a white carpet...I'm going to hurt somebody.

Readers like to follow the same characters. Once you sell a mystery to WW, try building up a following by using the same police characters in future stories. Do us all a favor though... make them likable.

I know I'm repeating myself (talk about deja vu) but please try your very best to come up with a fresh twist or interesting solution that hasn't been done before. We want WW readers to LOVE this mystery page...not become bored with it.

Don't use too many names in your story. It just confuses the reader. The story this week handled this extremely well. You knew who you were reading about from the character's description. It all flowed well and never pulled the reader out of the story.

A short story is really just a very short novel. The same rules apply. Give us characters we will love and care about. Don't have them doing silly things.

Once again we have someone not acting right. Check your facts. Check your facts. Check your facts. Did I mention you should ALWAYS check your facts? Getting the details right should just be a given.

Make sure the solution makes sense. Common sense. Put yourself in their shoes. What would you do? Think? How would you act? Don't throw in a rotten fish just for smell.

Know the proper use of words. Men don't leer at each other -- generally. lol. Don't make up a silly details to fit your story line. Make sure everything works and people act in character.

UPDATE: Woman's World has changed their rights clause.

Q: It used to be WW had FNSR, first rights with a 6-month clause. Has that changed?

A: Yes. It used to be first serial rights which meant the magazine had the right to be the first place to publish the article/story/ poem in North America (USA and Canada) and after the piece ran, you were free to resell it to another medium or to package a collection of your work into a book.

However in 2014 Bauer Publishing has changed to this:

License to Bauer Publishing for User Content. You grant to Bauer Publishing the unrestricted, unconditional, non-exclusive, unlimited, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual and royalty-free right and license to host, use, copy, distribute, reproduce, disclose, sell, re-sell, sub-license, display, perform, transmit, publish, broadcast, modify, reformat, translate, archive, store, cache or otherwise exploit in any manner whatsoever, all or any portion of your User Content for any purpose whatsoever in all formats; on or through any media, software, formula or medium now known or hereafter developed; and with any technology or devices now known or hereafter developed and to advertise, market and promote the same.

About Me

Following sixteen years as a travel agent (more travel than money) Jody Lebel switched gears, returned to school and became a court reporter (more money than travel). She swapped jetting off to fun and exotic locations for reporting the cases of murderers, rapists, and thieves who are, by the way, almost never in a good mood. Being assigned to the chief judge in Broward County exposed her to a wide spectrum of cases; from funny to tragic to bizarre to downright creepy. She has reported everything from a homeless guy who had jumped the turnstile on the Metrorail and was now in jail for not having a quarter, to the Tamiami Strangler, a serial killer who murdered six women. ******
Contact me at ladyrprter at aol dot com

Woman's World Info ...

In 1981, Heinrich Bauer Verlag of Hamburg, West Germany, one of Europe's largest magazine publishers, entered America's highly competitive women's service magazine field when it launched the weekly Woman's World. The magazine quickly set itself apart from the rest of the pack. Other women's magazines of the day were mostly thick slick tomes bursting with ads, and featuring articles geared to upwardly mobile readers. Woman's World, on the other hand, offered a high-quality tabloid-style format light on ads that was aimed at middle-class moms who wanted practical advice on food, fashion, parenting, and beauty and health tips. The public soon took notice. Woman's World quickly became the most popular weekly women's magazine in the country.

Today, Bauer Publishing USA, headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, is the number one seller of magazines on newsstands in the United States, generating an annual $320 million dollars in single copy revenue. It publishes two of the top five selling titles on the newsstand-Woman's World and In Touch Weekly. For several years running, Woman's World, a fixture at supermarket checkout stands everywhere, was the most popular newsstand magazine of any kind. As it celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2006, Woman's World remains the #1 selling women's publication on newsstands, selling more than 77 million copies in 2004. First for Women, another Bauer publication was second in sales with 25 million. Far back in the pack in third place was Woman's Day, with sales of 16 million newsstand copies.

Woman's World celebrated its 25th year on the newstands in 2006. This weekly publication is the number one newsstand seller with a yearly circulation of well over 84 million. Don't underestimate this little magazine. Woman's World is very popular with middle class women for many reasons. The price is nice, at $1.79 and it has very few ads and none of those annoying subscription cards inside. Every single page is jam packed with information and the romantic fiction and a solve-it-yourself mystery are a nice bonus. The features makes you feel good too.

Woman's World Fiction Guidelines

WOMAN'S WORLD FICTION GUIDELINES Mini mystery guidelines: We purchase short "solve-it-yourself" mysteries of 700 words--a count that includes the narrative and the solution. Stories should be cleverly plotted, entertaining cliffhangers that end with a challenge to the reader to figure out “whodunit” or “howdunit.” The solution to the mystery is provided in a separate box.Robbery, burglary, fraud and murder are acceptable subjects, but spare the readers any gory details or excessive violence, please! We are also not interested in ghost stories, science fiction or fantasy.We pay $500 per mystery and retain all rights after publication.IMPORTANT NOTES:Manuscripts should be double-spaced in legible size type.Where to send manuscripts:

If you have not previously been published by Woman's World magazine: Fiction@WomansWorldMag.com to Patricia Gaddis' attention If you have had a romance or mini-mystery published by Woman's World:FictionPro@WomansWorldMag.com to Patricia Gaddis' attention

Get to know us: Please familiarize yourself thoroughly with our romances and mini mysteries before submitting your work.Be patient: Because we receive a tremendous volume of manuscripts, our turnaround time may range from one to three months. If you still have not heard from us after four months, feel free to submit your manuscript t another publisher. Please do not call or write us to inquire about a manuscript's status.

My track record --

I took Kate Willoughby's workshop on how to write for Woman's World magazine. I highly recommend it. Go to her blogspot site at womansworldstyle.blogspot.com for more info.

Then I sat down and wrote my first romance story for WW. That was in July 2012. It sold in November 2012 and appeared in the December 31st issue.